Thank you to Chris Dornan for this report:
Ruairi Og started this match playing against a small breeze, and Alex Delargy made light of the conditions when he stole in for the 1st point of the match. St John's full forward Declan Creigan cancelled that score out with a neat finish from 40 yards. Paddy McNaughton replied for the 'Dall with a great point after a strong run and Karl McKeegan pushed the 'Dall men further ahead after pointing from the dead ball.
Conor Johnston clawed a point back the Johnnies after he stroked over a free. This seemed to up the ante for Ruairi Og and a nice point from Eoghan Campbell and a goal and a point from Conor Carson pushed the 'dall men further in front.
Micheal Bradley tapped over a point for the Johnnies, but back came the dall with pointed frees from Karl McKeegan (2) and minors from Alex Delargy and Conor Carson. Conor Johnston knocked over 2 points for the Johnnies: one from play and one from a free. Eoghan Campbell slotted over a score but the final score of the half went to the Johnnies through Mickey O'Neill that left the half time score:
St Johns 0-6 Ruairi Og 1-9
Cushendall knocked over the first 2 scores of the 2nd half through Conor Carson and the dead ball from Karl McKeegan. Donal Carson replied with 2 points and Conor Johnston added a free for the Johnnies but Cushendall extended their lead with further scores from Shane McNaughton (2), Alex Delargy, Conor Carson and Paddy McNaughton.
Conor Johnston flighted over the next 3 points of the match for the Johnnies, with 2 from play and 1 from a free. Conor Carson added another point for the 'Dall, Conor Johnston replied with a free, Karl McKeegan knocked over a great point and then that man Johnston banged over yet another free. However equallly accurate from the dead ball, Karl McKeegan converted a free for Cushendall before Conor Johnston scored a great point from play. As the game drew to a close, there was just time for Ronan McGrady to knock over the last point of the game to leave the final score:
St Johns 0-15 Ruairi Og 1-21
How we played
All in all, this was a great performance from Ruairi Og. Some of the scores that were taken and defending was of the highest calibre. The one negative for me was some very poor tackling at times which led to some silly frees being given against us. Hopefully this will be amended over the coming weeks.
Man of the Match
Today there were some very good performances from Ruairi Og: Ronan Kearney was assured as always in goals, Ryan McCambridge, Neil McManus and David Kearney were strong in defence. Paddy McNaughton dominated in midfield and upfront Karl McKeegan, Alex Delargy and Ronan McGrady were on top but for me the award is a split one today. Paddy Burke was really outstanding today. His tackling, catching and reading of the game were top class and Conor Carson was in top form today up top. He scored 1-5 from play and was a real menace to the Johnnies rearguard.
Team:
1. R Kearney 2. M Burke 3. N McManus 4. R McCambridge 5. D Kearney 6. D McNaughton 7. P Burke 8. E Campbell (0-2), 9. P McNaughton (0-2) 10. K McKeegan (0-6, 4 f) 11. C Carson (1-5) 12. E McKillop 13. A Delargy (0-3) 14. R McGrady (0-1) 15. S McNaughton (0-2)
Sub: A McNaughton for A Delargy
Ruairi Og started this match playing against a small breeze, and Alex Delargy made light of the conditions when he stole in for the 1st point of the match. St John's full forward Declan Creigan cancelled that score out with a neat finish from 40 yards. Paddy McNaughton replied for the 'Dall with a great point after a strong run and Karl McKeegan pushed the 'Dall men further ahead after pointing from the dead ball.
Conor Johnston clawed a point back the Johnnies after he stroked over a free. This seemed to up the ante for Ruairi Og and a nice point from Eoghan Campbell and a goal and a point from Conor Carson pushed the 'dall men further in front.
Micheal Bradley tapped over a point for the Johnnies, but back came the dall with pointed frees from Karl McKeegan (2) and minors from Alex Delargy and Conor Carson. Conor Johnston knocked over 2 points for the Johnnies: one from play and one from a free. Eoghan Campbell slotted over a score but the final score of the half went to the Johnnies through Mickey O'Neill that left the half time score:
St Johns 0-6 Ruairi Og 1-9
Cushendall knocked over the first 2 scores of the 2nd half through Conor Carson and the dead ball from Karl McKeegan. Donal Carson replied with 2 points and Conor Johnston added a free for the Johnnies but Cushendall extended their lead with further scores from Shane McNaughton (2), Alex Delargy, Conor Carson and Paddy McNaughton.
Conor Johnston flighted over the next 3 points of the match for the Johnnies, with 2 from play and 1 from a free. Conor Carson added another point for the 'Dall, Conor Johnston replied with a free, Karl McKeegan knocked over a great point and then that man Johnston banged over yet another free. However equallly accurate from the dead ball, Karl McKeegan converted a free for Cushendall before Conor Johnston scored a great point from play. As the game drew to a close, there was just time for Ronan McGrady to knock over the last point of the game to leave the final score:
St Johns 0-15 Ruairi Og 1-21
How we played
All in all, this was a great performance from Ruairi Og. Some of the scores that were taken and defending was of the highest calibre. The one negative for me was some very poor tackling at times which led to some silly frees being given against us. Hopefully this will be amended over the coming weeks.
Man of the Match
Today there were some very good performances from Ruairi Og: Ronan Kearney was assured as always in goals, Ryan McCambridge, Neil McManus and David Kearney were strong in defence. Paddy McNaughton dominated in midfield and upfront Karl McKeegan, Alex Delargy and Ronan McGrady were on top but for me the award is a split one today. Paddy Burke was really outstanding today. His tackling, catching and reading of the game were top class and Conor Carson was in top form today up top. He scored 1-5 from play and was a real menace to the Johnnies rearguard.
Team:
1. R Kearney 2. M Burke 3. N McManus 4. R McCambridge 5. D Kearney 6. D McNaughton 7. P Burke 8. E Campbell (0-2), 9. P McNaughton (0-2) 10. K McKeegan (0-6, 4 f) 11. C Carson (1-5) 12. E McKillop 13. A Delargy (0-3) 14. R McGrady (0-1) 15. S McNaughton (0-2)
Sub: A McNaughton for A Delargy